Liquid dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A device for applying a uniform film of liquid to a floor surface including a dispensing means for dispensing the liquid onto the floor surface at a prescribed rate and spreading means for spreading the dispensed liquid over the floor surface in a uniform film. The dispensing means includes a liquid container for carrying a supply of liquid and a distributor manifold connected thereto through a metering means for controlling the rate of liquid dispensed. The spreading means includes a flexible absorbent member with a first forcing member along the leading edge thereof and a second forcing member along the trailing edge thereof with a liquid accumulating space therebetween.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,912,402

English Oct. 14, 1975 LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles [76] Inventor: Wayne K. English, Rte. 2, Box 921, Ammey Agent pwell Roanoke, Ala. 36274 [22] Filed: May 13, 1974 RACT 2 APPL 4 9 32 A device for applying a uniform film of liquid to a floor surface including a dispensing means for dispensing the liquid onto the floor surface at a prescribed U.S. rate and p i g means for Spreading the dispensed [5 IIIt. CI. Over the Surface in a uniform The Fleld of Search t p g means includes a container f y g a supply of llqLllCl and a distributor manifold connected thereto through a metering means for control- [56] References C'ted ling the rate of liquid dispensed. The spreading means UNITED STATES PATENTS includes a flexible absorbent member with a first forc- 2,533,706 12/1950 Acocella eta]. 401/139 ing member along the leading edge thereof and a sec- 2,979,756 4/1961 Wallis 401/139 X 0nd forcing member along the trailing edge thereof 3,127,631 4/l964 Hershberger et al. 40l/l40 with a liquid accumulating space therebetween, 3,457,015 7/1969 Taber 40l/l37 X 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures F4002 SURFACA' 8/ 8 US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,912,402

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,912,402

FL 002 sum-40s J 3 Mm IH WM mm M m LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Buildings having floors of hard wood or plastic tile require that the finished floor surface be periodically cleaned and waxed to maintain a desirable appearance on the floor surface and to reduce the wear of the floor surface itself. This is especially true in commercial buildings such as office buildings, supermarkets and other community buildings since the traffic over the floor is quite heavy. Where the foot traffic is quite heavy, the periodic cleaning and waxing of the floor must be done frequently to protect the floor sufficiently. In order to effectively apply the liquid coating such as wax to the floor, it is desirable to provide a device which can be towed over the floor relatively rapidly by personnel, which does not cause streaks in the liquid coating, which applies a uniform film of liquid to the floor surface, which is capable of compensating for uneveness in the floor surface and which can be used to apply the liquid in strips without noticing the overlapping of the strips. Several prior art attempts have been made to accomplish these results, however, such devices have tended to be complex and expensive in construction as well as being difficult to use and in which the proficiency of the device was dependent upon the skill of the operator towing the device over the floor surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by providing a liquid dispensing device for spreading a liquid on a floor which is capable of spreading a uniform film of the liquid on the floor, which is not dependent on the proficiency of the operator, which has the capability of applying the uniform liquid without regard to the variable nature of the floor surface and which does not streak the floor as the liquid is applied thereto. The apparatus of the invention comprises generally a dispensing means which has a liquid container and a distributing manifold connected thereto through a metering device for metering the liquid from the container to the distributor at a selected flow rate; and spreading means connected to and movable with the dispensing means for spreading the liquid dispensed from the dispensing means onto the floor. The spreading means includes a flexible absorbent spreading member with a first weighted member along the leading edge of the spreading member for applying a first prescribed force to the spreading member and a second weighted member for applying a second prescribed force to the spreading member at a point spaced behind the first weighted member. The second weighted member is flexible while the first weighted member is rigid. The spreading member has accumulating means for selectively accumulating the excess liquid applied to the floor by the dispensing means between the first weighted member and the second weighted member and redistributing the excess accumulated liquid as required to maintain a uniform film of the liquid on the floor surface.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the spreading means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the wheel and axle assemblies and taken along line 44 in FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

These figures and the following detailed description disclose specific embodiments of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to the figures, it will be seen that the liquid spreading device 10 comprises generally a dispensing assembly 11 and a spreading assembly 12. As seen in FIG. 1, the device 10 is towed or pulled by an operator along the prescribed path P in the direction indicated whereupon the dispensing assembly 11 dispenses the liquid to be applied to the floor surface in front of the spreading assembly 12 whereupon the spreading assembly 12 distributes the dispensed liquid on the floor surface in a thin film or coating of a prescribed thickness.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the dispensing assembly 11 comprises generally a frame 14 which includes a generally inverted U-shaped base plate 15 having a generally horizontally oriented rectilinear web 16 with depending side plates 18 on opposite sides thereof. An inverted generally U-shaped handle 19 is attached to the side plates 18 at the leading end 20 of base plate 15. The handle 19 includes a pair of depending legs 21 which are attached to the side plates 18 which extend therebelow and are equipped with rubber bumpers 22 to support the leading end of the frame 14. It will further be noted that the handle 19 angles forwardly of the base plate 15 at a prescribed angle (b so that the device 10 may be towed by an operator without interference with the base plate 15. A wheel support assembly 30 is connected to the side plates 18 adjacent the trailing end 31 of the base plate 15 so that the dispensing assembly 11 is supported on the wheel support assembly 30 as the device 10 is towed along the path P.

The wheel support assembly 30 comprises generally an elongate threaded shaft 32 which extends between the side plates 18 generally perpendicular to the path P through apertures 34 in the side plates 18. It will be noted that the threaded shaft 32 projects outwardly of the side plates 18 on opposite sides of the base plate 15 a prescribed distance D-l as best seen in FIG. 4. The threaded shaft 32 is fixedly attached to the side plates 18 by inboard support nuts 35 threadedly received on shaft 32 immediately inside the side plates 18. Outboard support nuts 36 are threadedly received on the shaft 32 immediately outside of the side plates 18 to lock the shaft 32 onto the side plates 18 in conjunction with the inboard nuts 35. An inside positioning nut 38 is threadedly received on opposite ends of the shaft 32 so that its outside face is located a prescribed distance D-2 outside the side plate 18 as best seen in FIG. 4. A

tubular reinforcing member 39 is received over each ofthe outboard support nuts 36 on opposite sides of base plate and the inside positioning nuts 38 on opposite sides of the base plate 15 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The inside diameter D-3 of the tubular members 39 is equal to the point-to-point diameter D4 of the nuts 36 and 38 so that the tubular members 39 tightly fit around the nuts 36 and 38. A washer 40 is positioned about the shaft 32 outboard of each of the nuts 38 and an outside positioning nut 41 is threadedly received on shaft 32 outside of the washers 40 so that as the nuts 41 are screwed against the washers 40, the washers 40 force the tubular members 39 tightly against the side plates 18 of the base plate 15. This causes the tubular member 39 to reinforce the rod 32.

A rubber tired wheel is slidably received over each of the projecting ends of the shaft 32 on opposite sides of the base plate 15 so that the bearings 51 of wheels 50 are mounted on the shaft 32 and the inner races 52 of the bearings 51 are fixed relative to shaft 32. An elongate drag link 54 as best seen in FIG. 1 is positioned on opposite ends of shaft 32 immediately outside wheels 50 by an aperture in one end of each drag link 54. A wheel nut 56 is threaded onto each of the outermost ends of the shaft 32 to maintain the wheels 50 and drag links 54 in place. An appropriate locking member such as that illustrated at 58 in FIG. 4 is used to lock each of the nuts 56 in place.

A liquid container 60 is mounted on the base plate 15 on top of the central web 16 as best seen in FIG. 1. For ease in cleaning, the container 60 is shown removably mounted on the web 16. The container 60 includes an open top liquid holding chamber 61 therein and is equipped with a selectively adjustable metering valve 62 as best seen in FIG. 1. The metering valve 62 is operatively connected to a control assembly 64 mounted on handle 19 so that the operator can selectively adjust the flow of liquid from the chamber 61 in the container 60. For locating the container 60 on top of the web 16, three upstanding posts 65 are provided which are rigidly connected to the central web 16 and project upwardly therefrom so that the container 60 sets thereinbetween.

A tubular distributing manifold is operatively connected to the spreading assembly 12 as will become apparent. The distributing manifold 70 is connected to the metering valve 62 by tubing 71 as best seen in FIG. 1. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tubular distributing manifold 70 comprises a piece of elongate pipe 74 that is oriented generally transversely of the path P and centered thereon. The pipe 74 defines a central distribut ing passage therethrough which is closed at opposite ends by caps 73 and a plurality of ports 76 are provided through the lower portion of the pipe 74 so that liquid within the distributing passage 75 can be discharged through the ports 76 in front of the spreading assembly 12 as will become more apparent. The ports 76 are equally spaced along the length of the pipe 74. A T- fitting 78 is provided centrally of the pipe 74 and communicates with the passage 75 so that the tubing 71 from the metering valve 62 can be connected to the T- fitting 78 so that liquid from the container 60 will be metered by the valve 62 and then flows through the tubing 71 to the passage 75 in the pipe 74 to be discharged out of the pipe 74 through port 76 onto the floor surface. While different size ports 74 and different spacing between ports 74 may be used, ports 74 having a diameter of one-sixteenth inch and spaced three-fourths inch apart have given satisfactory results in dispensing liquid wax.

As seen in FIG. 1, the spreading assembly 12 is attached to the trailing ends of the drag links 54 so that as the device 10 is towed along the path P, the spreading assembly 12 will be pulled behind the dispensing assembly 11 to spread the liquid dispensed from the distributor manifold 70 onto the floor surface. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spreading assembly 12 comprises generally a spreading member 80, a first forcing member 81 and a second forcing member 82.

The first forcing member 81 is connected to the trailing ends of the drag links 54, extends generally trans versely of path P, and serves as a mount for both the distributing manifold 70 and the spreading member 80. The first member 81 is a metal angle having an upstanding leg 84 and a trailing generally horizontally ori ented leg 85. Connecting tabs 86 are provided on opposite ends of the upstanding leg 84 which are pinned to the trailing ends of drag links 54 by hinge pins 88. It will be noted that the first member 81 has a length L-l that is longer than the distance between the wheels 50 as will become more apparent. The horizontal leg has a width W-l that is sufficient to provide good contact with the floor surface over which the device 10 is being towed and to maintain the orientation of the first member 81.

The upstanding leg 84 is provided with appropriate apertures which receive the attaching screws 90 of the spreading member clamp 91 therethrough. The spreading member clamp 91 is a U-shaped member having a generally upstanding central web 92 and trailing flanges 94 along the upper and lower edges of the central web 92. Thus, it will be seen that when the screws 90 are positioned through the upstanding leg 84 and wing nuts 95 tightened against the trailing side of the upstanding leg 84, the flanges 94 of the clamp 91 will be forced against the leading side of the upstanding leg 84. The clamp 91 is used to attach the spreading member 80 to the first member 81 as will be explained.

Mounted on the leading side of the central web 92 of clamp 91 are a pair of spaced apart spring brackets 96 equipped with detents 98 that hold the distributing pipe 74 of the dispensing manifold 70. The natural resiliency of the spring clamp 96 allows the pipe 74 to be selectively retained therein and removed for cleaning. This also spaces the discharge port 75 in the bottom of pipe 74 a prescribed distance D-5 forwardly of the first member 81.

It will also be noted that the trailing side of the upstanding leg 84 of member 81 is provided with a pair of eye members 99 which can be selectively connected to chains 100 seen in FIG. 1 to hold the first member 81 in a raised position when the device 10 is not in use. When the device 10 is ready to use, however, the chains 100 are disconnected from the eye members 99 so that the member 81 is supported by the leg 85 laying against the floor surface.

The spreading member 80 is a generally rectangular flexible absorbent member with a length L-2 greater than the length L-l of the first member 81 and a prescribed width W-2. The member 80 has a leading edge 110 and a rear edge 111. The leading edgel'l0'is positioned under the lower flange'94 of the clamp 91 so that it is centered along the clamp 91 and the wing nut 95 tightened to-clamp the leading edgeIIIO of the member 80 against the leading edge of the leg 84 of the first member 81. The member 80- then extends downwardly along the leading sideof the leg 84 and thence rearwardly under the'leg 85 of the member 81'so that the rest of themember 80 trails behind the member 81. While a number of different materials which are both flexible and absorbent may be used, the member 80 illustrated is a terry cloth'towel which is a looped pile fabric. This type'fabric is both flexible and absorbent as will become more apparent. I i

The secondmember 82 is placed 'on topof theme'mber 80 rearwardly of the first member 81 'so that itextends generally transversely of the path P. The member 82 is an elongate flexible'member"havinggenerally a rectangular cross-section, a length L-3 which is approximately the length L-l, a widthyW-3 and a height W 5. The member 82"defines a generally 'rectilinearlower spreading surface 120,a trailing surface 121, a top surface 122, and a leading surface 123. While a number of materials may be used for the second member 82, one material that has been found satisfactory is a foamed material such as sponge rubber or foamed plastic. Such a material is both flexible and adsorbent. It will be noted that the spreading member 80 passes under the second member 82 under surface 120, around the trailing surface 121 and then back forwardly over the top surface 122. Appropriate means such as pins 124 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are used to attach the rear edge 111 of the member 80 to the second member 82. The member 82 is located so that a space 125 is left between the trailing end of the member 81 and the leading end of the member 82 which has a prescribed width W-4. It will also be noted that the member 82 is considerably lighter in weight than the member 81 since the member 81 is made of metal so that the leg 85 is rigid.

It will be noted in FIG. 2, that as the liquid L is discharged from the distributor manifold 70 onto the floor surface forward of the spreading assembly 12, the

spreading member 80 passes over the liquid L with the leg 85 of the member 81 applying a first force on the member 80 thereunder to preliminarily spread the liquid L on the floor surface. This is followed by that portion of the member 80 forced against the floor surface by the second member 82 to provide a final spreading of the liquid L into a thin film. If an excess amount of liquid L is discharged onto the floor surface forward of the member 81, the excess liquid L can pass through the member 80 and into the space 125 which holds the liquid L therein as illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 2 until the flow rate from the manifold 70 is reduced sufficiently to allow the liquid L to seep back through the member 80 and be finally spread as the member 82 passes thereover. Thus, the operator simply notices the liquid level in the space 125 between the members 81 and 82 and adjusts the mechanism 64 so that a small amount of liquid L is maintained within the space 125. It will also be noted that the force applied to the member 80 by the member 81 is independent of the amount of liquid within the dispensing assembly 11 and the weight of member 82. Likewise, it will be seen that the force applied to the member 80 by the member 82 is independent both of the weight of the force applied by dispensing assembly 11; It will'als o be appreciated that any debrisor trash that-is encountered during the appli- "cation of the liquid to the floor'surface' 'will accumulate immediately forwardof th'e'member 81 or under the member at the space 125 without effecting the final film thickness applied by the device 10.

The forcing area of the member 81 and the member "82 on the spreading member 80 may be varied to fit the liquid being dispensed. One-satisfactory size'formember 81 is a leg 85 with a length of 24 inches and a width of 2' inches for'applying liquid wax with the lower surface of member 82 having a length of 24 inches and a width of '6inches.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been-disclosed herein, it is to be understood that full use may be made of modifications, substitutions and equivalents without departing fromthe scope of the invention. i I

What is cla'imedas invention is: 1 A device for spreading liquid on a floor comprisi g 1' p L dispensing means for discharging the liquid on the floor as said dispensing means is moved'over the floor; and, v spreading means for spreading the liquid discharged onto the floor by said dispensing means, said spreading means operatively associated with said dispensing means for trailing said dispensing means as said dispensing means is moved over the floor, said spreading means comprising: a spreading member movable over the floor and the liquid dispensed thereon, first forcing means for exerting said spreading member against the floor at a first prescribed position and at a first prescribed force, and second forcing means for exerting said spreading member against the floor at a second prescribed position spaced from and trailing said first prescribed position and at a second prescribed force.

2. The device of claim 1 further including accumulating means operatively associated with said spreading member for selectively accumulating and redispensing any excess liquid on the floor under said spreading member.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second prescribed force is less than said first prescribed force.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means is constructed and arranged for movement over the floor in a first direction.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first forcing means is an elongate rigid member and said second forcing means is an elongate flexible member.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said spreading member is a flexible absorbent member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means comprises a liquid container, at distributing manifold for distributing the liquid therefrom onto the floor and metering means operatively connecting the distributing manifold with the liquid in said container for selectively regulating the flow of liquid from said container to said manifold.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said spreading member is a flexible absorbent member, wherein said first forcing means is an elongate rigid member and said second forcing means is an elongate flexible member,

and wherein said second prescribed force is less than said first prescribed force; and further including accumulating means operatively associated with said spreading member for selectively accumulating and redispensing any excess liquid on the floor under said spreading member.

9. A device for spreading liquid on a floor comprisa spreading member movable over the floor and the liquid dispensed thereon having a leading portion and a trailing portion;

a first member attached to said spreading member along its leading portion for pulling said spreading member along the floor and having a first prescribed weight for exerting a first force on said spreading member toward the floor along the leading edge thereof; and,

a second member supported on said spreading member along its trailing portion for movement with said spreading member and having a second prescribed weight for forcing said spreading member toward the floor along the trailing edge thereof.

10. A method of spreading liquid on a fioor comprising the steps of:

moving a flexible spreading member over the floor in a first direction;

dispensing the liquid onto the floor immediately preceding the leading edge of the spreading member as it is moved; applying a first force on said spreading member along the leading edge thereof with a first weighted member to preliminarily spread the liquid; and,

applying a second force along the trailing edge of the spreading member with a second weighted member 'to finally spread the liquid on the floor into a generally uniform film.

11. The device of claim 8 further including a frame assembly, said frame assembly comprising a base member mounting said liquid container thereon for movement along a prescribed path; a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said base member to movably support said frame assembly on the floor, said wheels rotatable about a common axis generally normal to said prescribed path; and handle means connected to said base member for moving said frame assembly along said prescribed path; and further including linkage means pivotally connecting said elongate rigid member to said frame assembly so that said spreading means is towed behind said frame assembly as said frame assembly moves over the floor in a first direction along said prescribed path. 

1. A device for spreading liquid on a floor comprising: dispensing means for discharging the liquid on the floor as said dispensing means is moved over the floor; and, spreading means for spreading the liquid discharged onto the floor by said dispensing means, said spreading means operatively associated with said dispensing means for trailing said dispensing means as said dispensing means is moved over the floor, said spreading means comprising: a spreading member movable over the floor and the liquid dispensed thereon, first forcing means for exerting said spreading member against the floor at a first prescribed position and at a first prescribed force, and second forcing means for exerting said spreading member against the floor at a second prescribed position spaced from and trailing said first prescribed position and at a second prescribed force.
 2. The device of claim 1 further including accumulating means operatively associated with said spreading member for selectively accumulating and redispensing any excess liquid on the floor under said spreading member.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second prescribed force is less than said first prescribed force.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means is constructed and arranged for movement over the floor in a first direction.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first forcing means is an elongate rigid member and said second forcing means is an elongate flexible member.
 6. The device of claim 2 wherein said spreading member is a flexible absorbent member.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means comprises a liquid container, a distributing manifold for distributing the liquid therefrom onto the floor and metering means operatively connecting the distributing manifold with the liquid in said container for selectively regulating the flow of liquid from said container to said manifold.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said spreading member is a flexible absorbent member, wherein said first forcing means is an elongate rigid member and said second forcing means is an elongate flexible member, and wherein said second prescribed force is less than said first prescribed force; and further including accumulating means operatively associated with said spreading member for selectively accumulating and re-dispensing any excess liquid on the floor under said spreading member.
 9. A device for spreading liquid on a floor comprising: a spreading member movable over the floor and the liquid dispensed thereon having a leading portion and a trailing portion; a first member attached to said spreading member along its leading portion for pulling said spreading member along the floor and having a first prescribed weight for exerting a first force on said spreading member toward the floor along the leading edge thereof; and, a second member supported on said spreading member along its trailing portion for movement with said spreading member and having a second prescribed weight for forcing said spreading member toward the floor along the trailing edge thereof.
 10. A method of spreading liquid on a floor comprising the steps of: moving a flexible spreading member over the floor in a first direction; dispensing the liquid onto the floor immediately preceding the leading edge of the spreading member as it is moved; applying a first force on said spreading member along the leading edge thereof with a first weighted member to preliminarily spread the liquid; and, applying a second force along the trailing edge of the spreading member with a second weighted member to finally spread the liquid on the floor into a generally uniform film.
 11. The device of claim 8 further including a frame assembly, said frame assembly comprising a base member mounting said liquid container thereon for movement along a prescribed path; a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said base member to movably support said frame assembly on the floor, said wheels rotatable about a common axis generally normal to said prescribed path; and handle means connected to said base member for moving said frame assembly along said prescribed path; and further including linkage means pivotally connecting said elongate rigid member to said frame assembly so that said spreading means is towed behind said frame assembly as said frame assembly moves over the floor in a first direction along said prescribed path. 